promoting the value of reservists

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A-CR-007-000/ag-003 Alliance PROMOTING THE VALUE OF RESERVISTS By PO1 PAUL LEBLANC Op KOBOLD / TF Pristina This is the story of the generosity of a group of individuals from the Nova Scotia communities of Tatamagouche, New Glasgow and Truro who helped me bring a little comfort and joy to some children in Kosovo. This was not a huge project, but kindness is not measured by money or size. In this case, it was measured by knitting needles. These individuals took a little time out of their lives to make slippers for children. Before I start my story, I would like to give you a brief overview of where I am. I am currently serving with NATO in Pristina, Kosovo. There are five Canadian Forces members here deployed under Operation KOBOLD at Camp Film City as part of Kosovo Force (KFOR). Our duties revolve around mentoring the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). Following a period of intermittent war in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, the Balkan region has seen extreme political, economic and social changes. Kosovo, which has long had inter-ethnic violence, declared independence from Serbia February 17, 2008. Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo as a nascent nation has led to tension. Like any other newly independent state, Kosovo must grow out of its infancy. While this growing occurs, the people of the country continue to endure hard times. Upon my arrival in Pristina, Kosovo, December 3, 2011, my predecessor introduced me to Nina. Nina runs the Women’s and Children’s Wellness Centre here in Pristina and, along with five other volunteers, looks after 49 children ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old. Almost all the children are orphans. www.cflc.forces.gc.ca Knitting for Kosovo Nina and the five volunteers have no funding for the centre and rely on donations. All donations come from good people here at Camp Film City: the Americans pay for the centre’s heat, the Germans look after supplying some food and electricity and we Canadians do whatever we can to help at the centre. Major Chantale Brais and I try to visit the centre at least once a week, so we are normally the contacts for activities KFOR personnel put on for the children. This past Christmas, the dining facility at Film City had an ‘angel tree’ — a Christmas tree decorated with angels labelled with the children’s names — to ensure that all the children at the centre got a new winter coat. The angels disappeared fast and on Christmas Eve 2011, the Canadians, along with the Americans, Germans and other nations, delivered the gifts to the centre. With the Canadians taking the lead on the set up for the arrival of Santa Claus (my starring role), the children had a Christmas to remember. While I was enjoying myself playing Santa Claus that day, I took a look around, and even though I saw the bright smiles on the children, I could not help but notice that they were all barefoot. The building is made of cement and almost unheated, as the centre has no regular income. The NATO military personnel and the children enjoyed the rest of the day with singing and traditional dancing. But it bothered me deeply to see children without slippers to put on their little feet. Knowing that Nova Scotians love to knit, I contacted my home unit, 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) in Truro, with the idea to find someone who could knit me 75 pairs of slippers that I would pay for. I received an email from my unit that they, in fact, did find some ladies who could knit the slippers, as well as some hats, mittens and scarves for the children, and that they would be sent over as soon as possible at no cost for the items. I have received the first shipment of slippers and have delivered them to the centre where we (Canadians as a whole) could not get enough thanks from Nina and the children. Also, while I was talking to my unit, I mentioned our plan to try and convert one side of the centre into a daycare in the spring so that they can be more selfsufficient. The project is on track to start, with the Americans providing most of the funding, and the Canadians, through the generosity of Boomer’s Trust Fund, will also be able to provide some funding. Boomer’s Trust is the operating arm of Boomer’s Legacy, the charity created by Maureen Eykelenboom after her son, Cpl Andrew ‘Boomer’ Eykelenboom, was killed in Afghanistan. It is an entirely civilian organization that raises money through events such as an annual bike ride and gala. The bike ride originated in Victoria and Comox, B.C. and has now spread to Edmonton, Ottawa and Halifax. The money goes to deployed CF task forces to use in charitable activities for families – especially mothers and children – in their area of responsibility. My predecessor, Warrant Officer Dan Flynn, works with the organization in British Columbia, and as Maureen is a friend, he requested funds to help with the Centre. In May 2011, Roto 4 of Operation KOBOLD delivered 3,500 Euros to the Centre from Boomer’s Trust, leaving some money with Roto 5 for future projects. These funds will aid in the construction and repair of the playground area for the children. Alliance 2.2012 | 18
A-CR-007-000/ On behalf of the Canadian contingent at Camp Film City, Lieutenant-Colonel Ken Faulkner, Lieutenant-Colonel Denis Thebeau, Major Chantale Brais, Major Leigh Craig-Browne, I would like to thank the ladies in Tatamagouche and 19 | Alliance 2.2012 New Glasgow who knitted the slippers, mittens, scarves and hats, and the 1st Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) for their donations and thoughtfulness in supporting this dream of mine to cover the little ones’ feet. Also, in closing, we would all like to give a special thank you to Boomer’s Legacy for their generous support to the Women’s and Children’s Wellness Centre in Pristina. Petty Officer First Class Paul Leblanc, Chief Clerk of Task Force Pristina (top left) and head volunteer Nina Qrhi (top right) hold a Canadian flag with the children of the Women's and Children's Wellness Centre in Pristina, Kosovo, Friday, March 30. They thank the knitters in Tatamagouche, New Glasgow, and Truro, N.S., who provided hand-made slippers, mittens, scarves, and hats. - Photo courtesy PO1 PAUL LEBLANC CANADIAN FORCES LIAISON COUNCIL
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